LE RIRE DES CAMISOLES 1969-1974

This compilation is a brilliant story of a French avantgarde progressive legend BARRICADE, and at the same time, can be called as something like their magnificent tragedy featuring their instability of social position or musical identity. It's a pity indeed we cannot grab any of their unified creation, but their fragility can be heard as an obvious antipop attitude via the compilation gem. Let me say thanks to Futura Records for this treasury release compiled with lots of their "unpublished" material. Another French avantgarde progressive rock history this album should be. Various appearances of theirs via studio- recorded, stage-based, or maybe homemade productions by non- stabilized formation (a bunch of musicians had participated) can be realized upon this soundgarden.

The brilliant starter "Dubble P'p'e Blues" should be their masterpiece filled with powerful heavy rock sound innovation and dry but enthusiastic voices. The impression is really beyond expression, regardless of their simple instrumental formation. On the contrary, "Cagagnasse" sounds of a short distorted music drone. Some bedroom- made-ish (or on-stage) chamber tracks can notify us of their mysterious identification or commune pleasure with safe and sound. Their strongly intentional bizarre texture (with multiple instruments or strange percussive stuffs) can be launched here, there, everywhere nonetheless. Because of unreleased ones, the mixing or direction is disappointing (except few tracks) but their "momentary" overflown commune power filled with such a French sophistication (sometimes strictly with the audience e.g. in "Lorient Express" or "Concert En Arles" methinks) should keep a tight grasp upon our mind definitely. An amazing stuff indeed.